Flash light



June 5, 1928.

R. AMA-r ET AL FLASH LIGHT Filed April 30, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet I I INVENTOR 1 ATTORNEY R. AMA'T tr AL June 5, 1928..

FLASH LIGHT Filed April 30, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Rene Hind-b WWBZa/ke INVENTOF ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Patented June 5, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- am AMA! Aim WIL ARD w. BLAKE, or wnmmruccA, imvnm.

I FLASH LIGHT.

Application filed April 80, 1927. Serial-No. 187,868.

Our present invention has reference to an electric flashlight or .torch.

An important ob'ect of the invention is the provision of a dash light or torch with a generator and with lever operated means for imparting a rapid rotary motion to the armature of'the generator and to direct the current therefrom to the lamp-bulb in the head of the device, and whereb will be illuminated as long actuated.

A further object is to provide an electric illuminating device of the flashlight type with a generator for creatin an electric current for the lamp bulb whic is housed in the handle or casing of the device in a novel manner, and wherein a spring influenced the bulb as t e lever is lever, along one side of the handle or cas-' ing is designed to be gras ed by the hand of the operator andpresse in the direction of the casing to actuate means for rapidly,

revolving the armature of the generator,

and'wherein clutch means is provided for preventing the turning of the armature when pressure against the lever is released,

and whereby the bulb will be illuminated as long as the lever is actuated.

A still further object is the provision of a device for this purpose that is characterized by simplicity in construction, cheapness in manufacture and thoroughly eflicient for its use.

To the attainment of the above broadly stated objects and others which will present themselves as the nature of the invention is better understood, the improvement further resides in certain other novel features of construction, combination and operative association of parts, a satisfactory embodiment of which is disclosed by the accompanying drawings:

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a s1de elevation of a flash light embodying our improvement.

lar casing 1 having screwed on one end carries a. lens 3, and a frusto conical reflector 4 provided with a socket 5 in which there is screwed a lamp bulb 6.

The casing 1 preferably comprises an inner metal shell and an outer paper cover: ing, and the open'end of the casing has screwed thereon a cap 7 in which there is a socket carrying bracket 8 for an extra lamp bulb 9.

The second end of the casing, on the end on which the head 2 is screwed, has threaded therein a head member 10, and on the inner faceof this member there is secured a disc '11., Fixed to the sides of the disc there are the parallel members 12 of a frame. The second or outer ends of the frame members 12 are connected together by a disc 13 and suitable brace means 14 holds the frame centralized in the casing 1. The disc 11 is provided'with a central opening in which is journaled one end of the shaft 15 of an armature 16. The windings for the armatures are indicated by the numeral 17. the shaft of the armature extending through the second end thereof, and indicated by the numeral 19, finds a bearing through a guide disc 20 secured between the members 12 of the frame, there being suitable lugs or washers on the. shaft 19 for holding the same from longitudinal movement. The shaft 19, outward of the guide and bearing disc 20 has fixed thereon a weighted roller 21. The roller is in the nature of a fly wheel or counterbalance and has on its outer end a stub shaft 22 that finds a hearwith a gear 26. The gear 26 is journaled on a suitable shaft 27 and has its hub provided with a clutch surface 28 that is engageable with a clutch surface on" the end of a pinion 29 that is journaled on the said shaft 27. A spring 30 is arranged on the shaft and engages with the contact element thereon and influences the pinion 29 to bring its clutch face into engagement with. the clutch face 28 of the gear 26. The pinion 29 has its teeth engaged by a rack bar 31 that is slidable through bearing openings in the opposite sides of the casing 1 or that may have one of its ends received in a suit-' able guide'in the casin The rack bar 31 has its outer end pivote as at 33, to a lever 34. The free end of the lever has an elongated slot therethrough, and through this slot there passes a pivot 35 supported by a suitable bracket on one side of the casing 1. A spring 36 is wound around the pivot 35 and has its arms exerting a tension be.- tween the casing and the lever 34.

Surrounding the armature 16 there are three spaced permanent magnets 37 and the ends orpoles of these magnets are connected to bracket arms 38 which extend from one of the frame members '12.

The commutator for the armature is indicated by the numeral 39. This commutator is contacted by brushes 40 and 41 which are supported from the frame members 12. The numeral 42 designates a spring contact member that is fixed to the end 10 and frictionally engages the contact of the bulb 36, and the numeral 43 designates a conductor between the brush 40 and the contact 42. The numeral 44 designates a conductor between the second brush 41 and the socket 5.

From the foregoing description it will be manifest that the swinging of the lever 34 in the direction of the casing will rapidly revolve the armature in its field between the magnets and thereby generate electricity which is directed to the lamp bulb 6 so that the bulb will be illuminated as long as the armature is thus revolved. A release of pressure against the lever rmits the tion. It will be further apparent that momentum is added to the armature by the counter-balancing member 21, sothat practically a continuous illumination of the bulb 6 will be effected.

The improvement entirely dispenses with the employment of batteries and is of a comparatively simple nature and construction. Obviously we do not desire to be restricted to the precise details herein set forth and, therefore hold ourselves entitled to such changes therefrom as fall within the scope of what we claim.

Having described the invention, we claim In an electric hand lamp, a casing havlng a generator which includes an armature therein, a commutator for the armature, and brushes for the commutator wired to the bulb for the lamp, said armature being revoluble bet-ween electro-magnets, a metal frame in which the shaft of the generator is journaled, and on which the magnets are secured, a weighted roller inthe frame having one end fixed to the shaft, a stub shaft for-the weighted roller journaled through one end of the frame, a train of gears, one of which being fixed on the stub shaft, a pinion having a clutch engagement with one of the gears, a spring influenced lever pivoted on one side of the casing, a rack bar carried thereby in engagement with the pinion and said rack bar guided through openings in the opposite sides of the casing.

In testimony whereof we aifix our signatures.

RENE AMAT.

WILLARD BLAKE. 

